The Mac Tiger Server Black Book

Are you a user or system administrator that needs to get the most out of Mac networking with Tiger Server? If you are, then this book is for you. Author Charles Edge, has done an outstanding job of writing a cool book that will help you tap the unused potential of your server. Edge, begins by describing the concepts and terminology of basic network communications. Then, the author takes a look at what requirements are needed to run Tiger Server. Next, the author covers the management utilities that are used in maintaining and working with Tiger server. He also covers the various services that the Tiger X Server can offer to administrators to help in managing networks. The author continues by covering the concepts required to build a good backup plan for any organization. Then, he provides an introduction to many of the command line utilities used in managing a Tiger Server and Mac network environment. Finally, the author explains the various other aspects of managing a long-term Tiger Server and the network the server lives on. After reading this most excellent book, you should end up with the ability to find your way around an OSX Server. Perhaps more importantly, you'll enjoy the process.

I had purchased an Xserve to do audio and video file sharing across our network. I found that most other books (Mac OSX server Essentials and Essential Mac OSX Server Administration) tended to be parroting the help menu in the Xserve and really didn't advance my understanding. But with the Little Black Book I had the server up and sharing files the day the book arrived. This book has everything most people need to know without being unnecessarily complex. Many of the other books constantly referred to the terminal to do functions that are easier to do in the GUI. Unix isn't that incredibly difficult but if I don't have to go there, all the better. If you want to get an Xserver up and going fast, BUY THIS BOOK!

After spending numerous amounts of cash on study materials. I have never found such a purchase like this one. (I had even returned other titles worth much more $$ back to the bookstore.) This "Little Black Book" is a very essential toolkit with in-dept and real-world events with explanations for every situation that any Tiger Server admin may encounter while troubleshooting in the field. If you are looking for a compact, lightweight reference guide that can be thrown into any carry bag look no further.

This book is a great general introduction to the ins and outs of OSX server. It covers every aspect of OSX server that an admin would need to know and is lovingly sprinkled with real life examples for when the stuff hits the proverbial fan. It's concise, no nonsense and a great tool to have in my arsenal.

I love the books in the Little Black Book series. The text is tight. The material is always relevant. And the examples are good. And this book falls right in line with that. The only place where the book goes wrong is that it's screenshot heavy, which is unusual. That being said, a good resource for Mac OS X users. Definitely worth a look.